Scooter Savings - how I saved money and reduced pollution

With rising gas prices, most of us are wondering how this will fit into our budgets. I drive a few miles to and from work 5 days a week, I run errands on my lunch breaks and sometimes after work as well. My local commute to and from work is not as far as others. However, when filling my SUV GMC Jimmy that averages 16 mpg according to www.fueleconomy.gov I started thinking about how I can cut my global warming pollution and expenses when gas hits $4.00 a gallon or more. 

I considered riding a bike. Then I considered the pros and cons. I would get quite a bit of exercise daily, which would be great! BUT when the weather gets extremely hot, will I actually continue to get on that bike daily or into the gas-guzzling SUV?  Living on a long steep hill as well caused some hesitation. I would be pushing my bike up the hill when I got home. Being in a time crunch or needing to carry a few items home would be difficult as well. I considered walking.  Then I thought about how early I would need to get up to be to work on time. Also, when doing daycare pick up, could I walk home or ride home quickly enough to get the vehicle that holds the car seat?

With all of these things to consider I started re-thinking my options. This led to my recent purchase of my 49.9 cc 2004 gas saving scooter/moped.  I started looking at Uncle Henry’s and Craigslist.com and weighed the options.  If you purchase a 50 cc or under, there is no need to get a motorcycle license according to the Maine state laws http://maine.gov/sos/bmv/registration/scooter.html. Once you register and insure it, you are out and about on the main roads with your new scooter, the exception being that you can not take a 50cc or smaller vehicle on the Interstate. These scooters get roughly 80-100 mpg (the tank holds about a gallon and a half of gas).

I think a scooter is a purchase worth considering. Hopefully we will see more and more scooters on the road.  You do need to remember to take caution while in traffic, follow all motor vehicle laws and speed limits and most of all assume you are invisible to other drivers (as my mom says!). DON’T FORGET TO PURCHASE A HELMET.  Your brain is worth protecting! 

Drive Safely,

Leisa Dennett
Advocacy Assistant

Comments

[Richard]

I considered riding a bike. Then I considered the pros and cons. I would get quite a bit of exercise daily, which would be great! BUT when the weather gets extremely hot, will I actually continue to get on that bike daily or into the gas-guzzling SUV? Living on a long steep hill as well caused some hesitation.

[Steve]

I'm a huge fan of the ole' scooter... it's good to have people pushing the moped movement. There's a new line coming out from yamaha that is battery operated and would demolish everything out there right now... can't wait!

[Scooters]

Nice tips. I like it very much...

[Scooters]

I really appreciate your blog. Well done.

[Laurent]

Hi Scooterists,

Spending about half of my time in Europe and half in the USA, I am also looking for a solution for my daily commuting. Leisa was suggesting a bike as a first choice for the exercise but then opted for a scooter because of the summer days effort. Does any of you have experience with motorized bikes, if so then do you really use both pedal and motor? In Europe I see more Velosolex than in America. Check out www.velosolex.com.

[Leisa Dennett]

Hi Mary,

Great questions! I was going to update everyone to let them know how it has been going with the new scooter. I absolutely love it now that I feel a bit more comfortable driving it. Not only have I had a blast on this thing but I have put over 100 miles on it and the gas savings are just unreal.

I do run my errands on it during my lunch break and stop by the grocery store for typical last minute items. It holds quite a bit in the seat for storage, and I have also put extra storage on the back by adding a travel duffle bag which I picked up very inexpensively at Big Lots. I hooked it on through the bottom with bungee cords so it won't fall off, but yet it is easily accessible. I found out during yesterday's rain storm that my new storate system is also waterproof!

Another example - Friday night I went to Hannaford and picked up 1 gallon of milk, M&M's, ice Cream, 3 movie rentals and some mini Whoopie pies. It all fit nicely in the duffle bag with room left over, and the gallon of milk fit right inside the seat. I couldn't even tell I had the extra items on the scooter. It did not change the balance of it at all.

Keep an eye out for my updated post. I will be posting more this week about the scooter. We may be able to add a picture to my post as well!

[Mary]

Now that you have had this for a little while, how are you still liking it? How do you handle having to pick up milk and things like that on the way home?

[Tanya]

You are inspiring! Makes me feel like I could do this.